Antiseptic telephone mouthpiece guard



March 1, 1966 T. P. KALoGRIs ANTISEPTIC TELEPHONE MOUTHPIECE GUARD Filed Sept. 8, 1961 Theodore Ka/ogr/'s INVENTOR.

9 BY @mm WM /fzw United States Patent O 3,238,313 ANTISEPTIC TELEPHONE MOUTHPIECE GUARD Theodore P. Kalogris, 2993 Adeline St., Oceanside, N.Y. Filed Sept. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 136,896 3 Claims. (Cl. 179-185) This invention generally relates to telephone attachment-s and has for its primary object to provide novel means for protecting the mouthpiece of the instrument in a manner to prevent the transmittal of various germs.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an improved antiseptic mouthpiece guard of the character described which is adapted to be readily slipped on a conventional telephone transmitter and removed therefrom when desired.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a sanitary mouthpiece guard or attachment of the character set forth comprising a readily removable filter unit of a unique construction whereby the germicidal element may be conveniently replaced from time to time.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved antiseptic telephone mouthpiece guard which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light Weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective View, showing an antiseptic guard constructed in accordance with the present invention in position on a telephone mouthpiece;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional View, taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a view in front elevation of the filter unit;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale through the filter unit, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of the device with the component parts thereof separated and showing the holder or cap broken away in section.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a generally cup-shaped holder or cap of a suitable elastomeric or other material which is designated generally by reference numeral 6. The cap 6 includes a skirt 7 which is adapted to be slipped on the usual mouthpiece 8 of a conventional telephone transmitter 9 in a manner to hug and frictionally grip said mouthpiece. This is illustrated to advantage in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

The holder 6 further includes an end wall 9 with which the skirt 7 is integral. The wall 9 of the cap 6 has formed centrally therein a circular opening 11. The inner end of the wall of the opening 11 is circumferentially rabbeted as indicated at 12.

The rabbet 12 of the opening 11 provides a seat for a removable circular filter unit 13. The filter unit 13 is frictionally retained in the opening 11. As shown to advantage in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, the filter unit 13 includes separable, telescopic inner and outer rings 14 and 15, respectively, of a suitable plastic or other material. The outer ring 15 is provided on its outer end with an inturned flange 16. The inner ring 14 is provided, on its outer end, with an external flange 17 which the ring 15 abuts. Formed integrally with the ring 14 on the inner periphery thereof is a plurality of Webs, plates or iianges ICC 18. Formed integrally with the plates 18, on the inner sides thereof, are split rings 19 providing chambers or .pockets 20 for the reception of a suitable deodorizing and disinfecting agent. Formed integrally with the flange 16 of the ring 15 are webs or plates 21 which are opposed to the plates 18. The plates 21 have formed therein circular openings 22 in alignment or registry with the chambers or pockets 20. The rings 14 and 15 provide a holder for a laminated, germicidal or antiseptic diaphragm or disk 23. This disk, diaphragm or filter element 23 is suitably chemically treated and, in the embodiment shown, is laminated, comprising an inner disk 24 between relatively large outer disks 25 of a suitable fabric. The peripheral or marginal portion of the disk, diaphragm or filter element 23 is firmly clamped between the ring 14 and the flange 16 of the ring 15. It also will be noted that the diaphragm or filter element 23 forms a closure for the chambers or pockets 20.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, with the antiseptic filter unit 13 mounted in the annular seat provided by the circumferential rabbet 12 in the wall of the circular opening 11 in the end wall or flange 10 of the holder or cap 6, said holder or cap is slipped longitudinally on the telephone mouthpiece 8. When the device is lso mounted the resilient skirt 7 substantially conforms to the mouthpiece 8 and frictionally grips same for retaining the attachment in position thereon. The chemically impregnated germicidal or antiseptic filter element 23, when the telephone is in use, kills various germs on contact and prevents the spread thereof in an obvious manner. Also, the pockets or chambers 20 defined by the split rings 19 are to contain a suitable deodorizing or disinfecting agent. To renew the filter element from time to time, the cap or holder 6 is removed from the mouthpiece 8 and the unit 13 is then easily removed inwardly from the rabbeted opening 11 in the end Wall or ange 10. The rings 14 and 15 are then separated to permit removal and replacement of the element 23. Or, if desired, the unit 13 may be discarded and a new unit mounted in the holder or cap 6. It will be noted that the element 23 closes the openings 22 in the plates 21 of the ring 15 for retaining the agent in the pockets 20.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An antiseptic telephone mouthpiece guard comprising a filter unit, said unit including separable, telescopic inner and outer rings, an antiseptic disk removably mounted between said rings, and means for mounting said unit on a telephone mouthpiece, said unit further including plates in one of the rings, and rings on the inner sides of said plates providing pockets for the reception of a deodorizing and disinfecting agent, said antiseptic disk forming a closure for the pockets.

2. An antiseptic telephone mouthpiece guard comprising a filter unit, said unit including separable, telescopic inner and outer rings, an antiseptic disk removably mounted between said rings, and means for mounting said unit on a telephone mouthpiece, said unit further including plates in one of the rings, and rings on the inner sides of said plates providing pockets for the reception of a deodorizing and disinfecting agent, said unit still further including plates on the other ring opposed to the first-named plates and having openings therein aligned with the pockets, said disk being interposed between the first and second-named plates and forming a foraminous closure for the pockets.

3. In combination with a telephone mouthpiece having a generally cylindrical configuration, a protective antiseptic guard comprising a one-piece plastic cap having an elongated skirt of flexible shape sustaining plastic material telescopically and frictionally engaged with the peripheral surface of the mouthpiece, an inwardly extending flange having an enlarged central opening engaging the outer edge of the mouthpiece with the central opening overlying the perforated portion of the mouthpiece for passage of sound therethrough, a rigid filter unit positioned in overlying relation to the mouthpiece, said flange having a peripheral recess communicating with the inner surface thereof for receiving the disk and retaining the disk against the mouth- .piece when the cap is placed on the mouthpiece, said rigid disk including a pair of spaced plates having projecting telescopic anges defining a smooth peripheral surface, a pair of mesh disks received between the plates and clampingly secured in place therebetween, a smaller mesh disk disposed between the two first mentioned mesh disks and retained in laminated relationship, each of said plates having inwardly extending flange portions, the flange portions on one plate having longitudinally projecting cylindrical rings forming pockets for receiving a material capable of sterilizing, deodorizing or the like, the flanges on the other of said plates having openings in registry with the pockets with the meshed disks serving as a closure for the pockets and the openings in the flanges in the other of said plates enabling the circulation of air to the material in the pockets.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,368 8/1931 Roberts 179-185 2,593,382 4/1952 Zimmermann 179-185 3,001,033 9/1961 Rosenblum 179-185 ROBERT H. ROSE, Primary Examiner.

WALTER L. LYNDE, STEPHEN W. CAPELLI,

Examiners. 

1. AN ANTISEPTIC TELEPHONE MOUTHPIECE GUARD COMPRISING A FILTER UNIT, SAID UNIT INCLUDING SEPARABLE, TELESCOPIC INNER AND OUTER RINGS, AN ANTISEPTIC DISK REMOVABLY MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID RINGS, AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID UNIT ON A TELEPHONE MOUNTPIECE, SAID UNIT FURTHER INCLUDING PLATES IN ONE OF THE RINGS, AND RINGS ON THE INNER SIDES OF SAID PLATES PROVIDING POCKETS FOR THE RECEPTION OF A DEODORIZING AND DISINFECTING AGENT, SAID ANTISEPTIC DISK FORMING A CLOSURE FOR THE POCKETS. 